**Providing an Optimized Running Service with 14 Years of Expertise**
**Accurate Data Measurement with Advanced Galaxy Watch Sensors**
**A Health Partner that Cares for Sleep and Recovery Beyond Running**
On May 14th, Choi Jun-il, Samsung Electronics’ VP of the Digital Health Team under the Mobile Experience (MX) Business Division, discussed the rising trend of the running population at a media briefing held at Samsung Electronics’ press room in Seoul. /Photo by Lee Seong-rak
[The Fact | Jung-gu = Reporter Lee Seong-rak] “With the sophisticated data from Samsung Health and the precise measurement technology of the Galaxy Watch, we will continue to provide a smart and integrated running experience.”
Choi Jun-il, VP of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Experience (MX) Business Division’s Digital Health Team, emphasized during a media briefing on the 14th at Samsung Electronics’ press room in Jung-gu, Seoul, that Samsung Electronics is the optimal partner to assist runners.
The reason Samsung Electronics is promoting its running-related technology is due to the increasing interest in running. It is estimated that the domestic running population has surpassed 10 million, with participation rates continuing to rise.
It has been found that one in three adult runners use a smartwatch. For Samsung Electronics, maker of the Galaxy Watch, runners are key customers, enjoying data-driven running by analyzing and sharing their records via smartwatches.
Running is one of the most-used exercise activities among Samsung Health users. Samsung Health is a comprehensive health platform that records and tracks daily health data such as diet, exercise, sleep, and medication and analyzes sleep and exercise data by interfacing with Samsung Electronics’ wearables.
On this day, Samsung Electronics focused on introducing the evolution of Samsung Health, illustrating how the platform has grown alongside runners.
Samsung Electronics first introduced S Health in 2012, allowing individuals to easily record health information on smartphones. Initially designed for basic tracking and GPS route recording, S Health was fully integrated with the Galaxy Watch in 2018, offering real-time pace guidance and enhancing wearable tracking capabilities.
In 2020, Samsung introduced the world’s first six running form analysis features, bringing sports science into daily life. The following year, a bioactive sensor was installed in the Galaxy Watch to seamlessly capture heart signals amidst intense movements, showcasing an integrated measurement technology that includes blood pressure, electrocardiography, and blood oxygen levels.
Subsequently, Samsung Health featured customized heart rate zones to analyze users’ cardiorespiratory endurance, reduce injury risk, and maintain optimal exercise intensity. A dual-band GPS was also embedded to accurately track runners’ locations even in complex urban environments.
Currently, Samsung Health assists general runners in intuitively utilizing expert-level, in-depth running metrics. The ‘Running Detailed Analysis’ feature, actively used by top athletes like Jacob Kiplimo, who placed third in this year’s London Marathon, is a prime example.
This feature accurately measures six critical items determining the quality of running: balance, ground contact time, flight time, regularity, vertical oscillation, and stiffness.
Through this, users can check body balance for injury prevention, measure ground contact time and flight ratio to find the most efficient running rhythm. They can also check body sway and elasticity during running to minimize energy waste and maximize performance.
Additionally, Samsung Health provides features such as VO2 Max, which checks cardiopulmonary fitness with a 10-minute run, and sweat loss analysis for monitoring body changes, thus preventing performance dips due to dehydration.
Samsung Health also aids in enhancing personal running abilities, essentially serving as a running coach. A 12-minute running test allows users to measure endurance and pace, objectively identifying current fitness levels through automatically assigned running levels from 1 to 10.
Upon diagnosis, one of over 160 professional programs is custom-matched to individuals’ levels, from basic fitness improvement to high-intensity training. After training, insights are provided on recovery to help establish a sustainable exercise habit without injury.
Former marathoner coach Kwon Eun-joo, who directly participated in the development of the Samsung Health running coach program, emphasized, “The running coach provides real-time voice guidance to prevent over-pacing and offers a suitable schedule for busy runners, becoming an optimized running partner for individuals.”
Samsung Electronics’ goal is not only to focus on running but also to address ‘recovery’ and ‘total care’ after running. Recognizing the importance of not only running well but also resting well, Samsung Health offers the ‘Energy Score’, which proposes rest tailored to the conditions of the day, along with everyday metrics like sleep, mental health, and nutrition status.
Coach Kwon noted, “By analyzing sleep stages or blood oxygen levels, one can objectively assess the fatigue of previous training,” adding, “This helps prevent injuries or stress fractures from excessive running.”
VP Choi Jun-il stated, “Samsung Health has grown in partnership with global users over the past 14 years,” emphasizing that it will continue to be a reliable health partner, helping runners understand their bodies and find a healthy balance in life, beyond just focusing on records.